The people in the Hollywood system want people that comply. There’s nothing more dangerous than freedom. They don’t want free people because they don’t know what they’re going to do next. This image of someone strong and free means trouble—when it’s not true. I always shoot my films on time, I never spend extra money. I’m compliant to most issues and understanding to most situations. The fact that I’m tenacious doesn’t mean that I’m impossible. – Julie Delpy, episode 244 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
For nearly four decades, artist Julie Delpy has been creating in front of the camera and behind it. She joins us this week to discuss her emotional investment in the work (4:05), the seed of truth that formed her new Netflix series, On The Verge (7:29), and how her views on parenting informed the show (8:57).
Growing in Paris with two actor parents (11:18), Delpy reflects on entering the movie business at fourteen (12:59), navigating an industry of misogyny and predation (14:53), and why she began writing as a means of escape (17:48).
Before we go, we sit with the Before trilogy (22:55), her directorial career (25:30), a breathtaking scene from Before Midnight (32:14) and the personal story behind it (34:24). To close– Julie walks us through her idea of a day well spent (41:58).
Show notes
- Follow Julie on Instagram.
- Stream Season 1 of On the Verge on Netflix.
- Watch the scene (“The Passing Through”) from Before Midnight.
- Find the full Before trilogy.
- View films directed by Julie: 2 Days in Paris, Skylab, 2 Days in New York, Lolo, My Zoe.
- Read Julie’s 2012 piece in The Guardian: “Hollywood Hates Me, but I Don’t Care.”
- See her 1985 audition for Jean-Luc Godard’s The Detective.
- Watch Julie sing “A Waltz for a Night” and hear her album on Spotify.
Illustration by: Krishna Shenoi